Haughey judgment untenable - Higgins

A protest rally with the slogan "Jail the Corrupt Politicians" went ahead at the weekend despite being cited by Judge Kevin Haugh last Monday as a reason why Mr Charles Haughey's trial should be postponed.

Several hundred people attended the protest, which began shortly after 3 p.m. outside the GPO in O'Connell Street, Dublin. It was organised by the Socialist Workers' Party.

Representatives of trade union bodies and community groups addressed the crowd, before the small, but vocal group of marchers made their way down O'Connell Street to D'Olier Street and then back to the GPO, where they were addressed by some members of the Opposition parties. Mr Kieran Allen, of the Socialist Workers' Party, said recent events had shown the arrogance of the Government.

"This march may be small but it shows there is an enormous anger in this country and people's eyes are being opened to how this country is really run," he said.

"The judgment that was given last week in the Haughey trial was incredible and it is untenable," said Mr Joe Higgins, speaking on behalf of the Socialist Party. He was concerned that this judgement could be used in future to allow those called in front of tribunals to claim that any subsequent trial would be prejudiced by publicity.